No money? We don't want you

YOUNGSTERS being driven out of Beau Sejour say they have nowhere else to go. Following a spate of trouble and vandalism, centre managers have made young people hanging out there in the evenings leave the centre.

But some youngsters say the trouble is nothing to do with them and plan to say their piece at a special meeting with Beau Sejour bosses.

Centre management is understood to be sympathetic and willing to find a solution.

'It's not something that's going to go away and it's certainly not something that's unique to Guernsey,' said NCH Guernsey youth alcohol worker Adam Farish.

'The kids argue that they've got nowhere to go and others will say there's loads to do but there isn't - not if you're a kid who hasn't got any money when most things cost at least a tenner.'

Mr Farish said groups were often asked to leave the centre after going onto one of the vacant courts to play basketball in the evening.

'Generally speaking the staff do their best and I expect Beau Sejour is under quite a lot of pressure to make money, but kids have been hanging out there for years and they aren't going anywhere without a decent alternative,' said Mr Farish.

Hiring a court for an hour costs £32, which the youngsters cannot afford.

'Some of the time the kids aren't looking to engage in an activity.

'They just want to hang out with their mates, sit around and have a chat.

'They don't always want to do something constructive. We just need a place for them to hang out so they're not bored and looking for trouble,' he said.

'The only reason they go and wreck stuff is because they're bored - if they have somewhere to be, they're less likely to be causing trouble and if you ask them, they'll tell you the same.

'There were a group of kids messing around and causing trouble up there when we had the 3on3 basketball on Monday '12 February' so I went over and told them to stop messing around.

'I told them about the five-a-side-football on Friday and, although I never expected it, three of them turned up and one of them apologised about the Monday.'

Mr Farish said that he would attend Friday's meeting and it was a perfect opportunity for those who had not caused the trouble to have their say.

'I just hope that both sides come with open minds. It's just about striking the right balance.'

Culture and Leisure operations director Keith Gallienne said measures had been taken to reduce the number of youngsters hanging around in or outside the centre.

'We employ security staff for a few hours a week during what we would call crucial times because we have had difficulties and we like to monitor who's going into the centre and areas immediately outside it,' he said.

'Some of our older users would feel intimidated by a group of younger people hanging around outside.'

He said sympathetic younger members of staff had instigated the meeting.

'We are certainly not wanting to be heavy-handed, but we have got other users to consider.'

* Friday's meeting takes place at 6.30pm in the Delancey Room.